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Blocks. Google's new VR APP

Image: Google

Google is one of the leading companies spearheading VR. Last week, Google released their newest free VR application, Blocks. Blocks, much like Tilt Brush, is a simple 3D modeling application that allows anyone with VR headset to create 3D art. But it also allows artist to export the objects out so they can take it into their favorite 3d software, like Unity.

Image: Google

Blocks is a very simple tool designed to be able to use without prior 3D modeling experience. All that is needed is a good imagination and a VR headset. You can run wild with your imagination, create anything you like, and share it with your friends or other artists. Google created a dedicated platform and marketplace for people to share ideas, projects, and assets, creating the foundation for a healthy VR ecosystem.

Image: Google

The controls are simple. Like Tilt Brush, the controller allows you to create simple geometric shapes such as cubes, triangles, cylinders, and toruses. The app becomes more powerful once you start getting used to the modeling controls. The user can pull faces or vertices to manipulate shapes into the desired object, such as a watermelon or a chair. The user can then give the object color, scale it, and even export it to another 3D software to add finishing touches.

While Blocks may be a less sophisticated product than the Oculus medium, the simplicity of the app and design will draw users to experiment with it. We believe Google’s intent was not to make an extensive VR modeling app, but to create an inviting and simple platform for artists to try to create art in VR. One of the biggest problems in VR is the lack of content, which stems from the high skill cap an artist needs in order to create a decent VR experience.

Creating fun and entertaining VR experiences are challenging. Paper Triangles has a full team that went to school to learn 3D and is still continuing to learn more about VR. The barrier for creating simple yet fun experiences is hindering the adoption of VR among artists, thus inhibiting user adoption. Google's Blocks takes promising steps in solving this problem by creating a system of tools and a healthy ecosystem to consume and create VR content in an easier manner.